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SUBJ/GUIDANCE ON EVALUATION OF DEPLOYABILITY, TEMPORARY LIMITED DUTY, AND
REFERRAL TO THE DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM (DES) DURING THE CORONAVIRUS
(COVID-19) PANDEMIC//
REF/A/MEMO/DASN/23APR20//
REF/B/MEMO/ASD/24MAR20//
REF/C/DOC/DOD/30JUL18//
REF/D/DOC/OPNAV/25SEP18//
REF/E/DOC/DOD/5AUG14//
REF/F/DOC/SECNAV/23SEP19//
REF/G/MEMO/BUMED/8NOV19//
REF/H/DOC/SECNAV/14JUN19//
REF/I/DOC/BUMED/28MAR12//
REF/J/DOC/BUPERS/5NOV04//
REF/K/DOC/BUPERS/11MAY07//
REF/L/DOC/BUPERS/27APR07//
REF/M/DOC/BUPERS/16APR07//
REF/N/DOC/BUPERS/23MAR05//
REF/O/DOC/BUPERS/11MAY07//
REF/P/DOC/BUPERS/14NOV11//
REF/Q/DOC/BUPERS/10NOV09//
NARR/REF A IS DEPUTY, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE NAVY (MANPOWER AND RESERVE
AFFAIRS) MEMORANDUM.
REF B IS ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (HEALTH AFFAIRS) MEMORANDUM.
REF C IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION 1332.45, RETENTION DETERMINATIONS
FOR NON-DEPLOYABLE SERVICE MEMBERS.
REF D IS OPNAVINIST 1300.20, DEPLOYABILITY ASSESSMENT AND ASSIGNMENT PROGRAM.
REF E IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION 1332.18, DISABILITY EVALUATION
SYSTEM (DES).
REF F IS SECRETARY OF THE NAVY MANUAL, DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM MANUAL.
REF G IS BUREAU OF MEDICINE MEMORANDUM, ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT OF THE
DEPLOYABILITY ASSESSMENT AND ASSIGNMENT PROGRAM.
REF H IS SECNAVINST 6120.3A, PERIODIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT FOR INDIVIDUAL
MEDICAL READINESS.
REF I IS BUMEDINST 6110.14, DOCUMENTING AND REPORTING INDIVIDUAL MEDICAL
READINESS DATA.
REF J IS MILPERSMAN 1306-1200, LIMITED DUTY (LIMDU).
REF K IS MILPERSMAN 1306-1202, LIMITED DUTY (LIMDU) AVAILABILITY PROCEDURES
AND ASSIGNMENT POLICY.
REF L IS MILPERSMAN 1306-1204, ACCOUNTABILITY OF PERSONNEL ON LIMITED DUTY
(LIMDU).
REF M IS MILPERSMAN 1306-1206, LIMITED DUTY (LIMDU) FOLLOW-UP CARE.
REF N IS MILPERSMAN 1306-1208, DISPOSITION AND ACCOUNTING OF PERSONNEL UPON
COMPLETION OF LIMITED DUTY (LIMDU).
REF O IS MILPERSMAN 1306-1210, NUCLEAR TRAINED AND SUBMARINE PERSONNEL ON
LIMITED DUTY (LIMDU).
REF P IS MILPERSMAN 1300-800, TRANSFER OF PERSONNEL TO OPERATIONAL DUTY
(OPERATIONAL SCREENING).
REF Q IS MILPERSMAN 1300-302, SUITABILITY AND SELECTION FOR OVERSEAS
SERVICE.//
RMKS/1. Pursuant to reference (a), this NAVADMIN announces interim policy
guidance pertaining to deployability evaluation, temporary limited duty and
Disability Evaluation System (DES) processes.
COVID-19 is challenging the progress made over the last year to improve the
effectiveness and efficiency of the temporary limited duty and DES processes,
which resulted in greater operational availability of our overall workforce.
This NAVADMIN amplifies guidance published in reference (b), which directs
limiting medical and dental care to only acute and emergent care to optimize
medical readiness during this COVID-19 pandemic. We will maintain medical
readiness through prioritization of medical assessments, delaying or
extending assessments where able, and using telehealth to the maximum extent
possible. Commands and Service Members, with support from Navy medicine,
will continue to closely track/monitor unit and individual medical readiness.
2. All Department of the Navy (DON) personnel must continue to aggressively
tend to their medical readiness in accordance with references (b) and (c).
Specifically, reference (c) directs anyone non-deployable for greater than 12
months to undergo a retention determination. Further, references (c) and (d)
detail how the Navy will process personnel who are non-deployable, with
disposition falling into three categories derived from non-deployability
determinations: (1) temporary limited duty, (2) administrative separation or
(3) referral to the DES. Further, references (e) and (f) detail the DES
process and reference (g) details the medical management of personnel who are
non-deployable.
3. As defined in reference (a), if care for a Service Members is delayed due
to medical access limitations, additional periods of temporary limited duty
may be required. Medical personnel will continue to employ current
methodology when making a decision to place Service Members on additional
periods of limited duty namely do they expect resolution of the medical
condition or will the Service Member be fully deployable within the next 12
months of their original placement on temporary limited duty. If the Service
Member has a condition that will not likely improve, then referral to the DES
is appropriate per references (e) and (f).
4. Referral to the Integrated Disability Evaluation System requires exams
within both the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans
Affairs (DVA), while the Legacy DES may be completed without DVA input. In
line with reference (a), if a Service Member is unable to schedule and
complete DoD or DVA examinations, the Physical Evaluation Board Liaison
Officer (PEBLO) may request deferment until such time as the examinations can
be performed.
This deferment will lengthen the duration a Service Member will be in the DES
and remain non-deployable. PEBLOs will ensure that existing DES cases with
finalized clinical narrative summaries are submitted to the Physical
Evaluation Board without delay.
5. The retention waiver process for Service Members who are non- deployable
for greater than 12 months will continue as normal - the Navy Personnel
Command Deployability Assessment and Assignment Branch (PERS-454) evaluates
each case and forwards a recommendation to the Deputy Chief of Naval
Personnel for final adjudication.
Inability to complete a course of treatment while under limited duty because
of COVID-19 will be considered during the retention determination process.
6. In line with reference (g), the Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
will prioritize medical readiness requirements to maximize operational
effectiveness, including separation history and physical exams (SHPE).
Telehealth should be used to the maximum extent possible to meet these
enduring requirements. The due dates defined in references (h) and (i) for
the annual Periodic Health Assessments (PHA) and annual dental examinations
are extended by an additional 120 days for all Service Members. Every effort
should be made to complete PHAs and dental exams due within 90 days of
deployment.
Pre-deployment and initial training vaccinations will continue, excluding
Smallpox. All routine readiness immunizations and laboratory tests will be
deferred with the exception of seasonal influenza.
7. References (j) through (q) provide specific details regarding limited
duty, operational and overseas screening. As noted previously, each
requirement is ongoing and BUMED continues to perform these vital functions.
Any Service Member found unsuitable for operational or overseas assignment
undergoes review by PERS-454.
If PERS-454 non-concurs with the reason for unsuitability, the cognizant
TYCOM/Fleet will be engaged for an additional review, which is typically a
15-day process. PERS-454 may override unsuitability determinations or direct
other actions as specified in reference (d). When a Service Member is found
unsuitable for an overseas assignment, PERS-454 works with BUMED and the
gaining Medical Treatment Facility to validate the concern, if medically-
related, for unsuitability and then works with detailers to amend the
assignment or direct further actions per reference (d).
8. Service Member or family movements to facilitate care, DES appointments,
pregnancy availabilities, expedited and safety transfers and Exceptional
Family Member Program needs will continue to be evaluated on a case-by-case
basis, however, PERS-454 may recommend delay in movement due to COVID-19
influenced risk.
9. These temporary measures will enable us to focus our medical efforts on
fighting COVID-19 while keeping all other processes as on track as possible
to continue to maximize our warfighting readiness.
10. For questions concerning these policy changes, please contact PERS-454
at (901) 874-4210 or the MyNavy Career Center at (833) 330-6622 and or
via e-mail at askmncc(at)navy.mil.
11. Released by VADM John B. Nowell, Jr, N1.//
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